Description

About the Position
Reporting to the Museum Director, the Chief Curator role was endowed by Henrietta Gates and Heaton Robertson in 2024.  As the first endowed position within the Cape Ann Museum the Gates/Robertson Chief Curator is of paramount importance and the Museum now seeks an energetic and visionary leader with significant museum and curatorial experience to fill this dynamic role. The Chief Curator will bring strategic vision and collaborative leadership to their primary responsibilities of developing and advising on the Museum’s artistic direction (in collaboration with the Director and CAM leadership staff); and, managing from concept to implementation all exhibition and permanent collection displays (roughly 6-8 annually).   

In managing the Collections Team, which includes curatorial colleagues, Library and Archive specialists, an Assistant Registrar, as well as guest curators, the Chief Curator will forge deep collaborative relationships across all Museum departments, working closely with Education and Interpretation staff, docents, and other volunteers in devising and implementing all exhibitions related programming content and publications.    

The Chief Curator will support the Museum Director as a visible presence in the community and aid in the communication of the Museum’s role as an outstanding visual arts institution grounded in the art, history and culture of Cape Ann. As such the Chief Curator will work to enhance the Museum’s reputation and affiliations as a collaborative public facing institution both regionally and nationally. This work will be achieved by ensuring access to the Museum’s collections and by promoting excellent scholarship produced for a range of contexts from social media content to seminar presentations, whether by the Chief Curator, or others interested in the art, culture, and history of Cape Ann.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development of all exhibitions drawn from the Museum’s permanent collections and from outside private collections and other museums.
• Champion, execute and support scholarly research in connection with all Museum exhibitions and collections generally.  
• Generate well considered accessibly focused written Museum content including for exhibition and catalog materials; Museum website and collections database content; “talking points” for others; material for press releases and social media outreach, as well as for grant LOI’s and applications.
• Advocate for and advise on the preservation of the Museum’s permanent collections, including the historic colonial structures stewarded across both its Downtown and CAM Green campuses.    
• Supervise the ongoing digitization and cataloging of all Museum holdings, with the goal of making these resources available and accessible to all via the Museum’s website.
• Research, prepare and present lectures, gallery talks, narrated walking tours, etc. for Museum stakeholders and the public.
• Oversee a Collections Team of four or more colleagues, including the Assistant Curator, Assistant Registrar, Librarian/Archivist, and Assistant Librarian/Archivist, any contracted guest-curators or other collections consultants such as conservators.
• Create and manage the Museum’s Collections Team annual operating budgets.
• Work in concert with colleagues across all areas of the Museum’s operations, including the Development Office, assisting with the identification, solicitation, and implementation of collections gifts and/or grants supporting the display, conservation, and stewardship of the Museum’s collections.
• In concert with the Museum’s Director and other staff members, assist with the proactive identification and stewardship of collectors with an interest in Cape Ann/ American art.  
• Serve on the Museum’s Collections Committee, Building Committee (both standing committees) and on other ad hoc committees, as needed and requested by the Director.    
• Liaise with other local and regional cultural institutions, as needed.  
• Assist with exhibition installations as needed, this may include moving collection items and pedestals, packing, unpacking and hanging artwork.  

Requirements

Key Qualifications

•       Appreciation of the Museum’s mission and deep knowledge of Cape Ann art, history and culture both past and present.  
•       A master’s degree in art history or a related field is required, with a Ph.D. preferred
•       10+ years of curatorial experience required, including at least 3 years in a leadership role.
•       Proven research skills and demonstrated success in exhibition and publication development
•       Expertise in leading teams focused on mentorship and excellence across all areas of job responsibilities
•       Excellent communication skills, both written and interpersonal.
•       Strong analytical skills and ability to think strategically and creatively with exceptional attention to detail, and to manage, set and meet deadlines.
•       Poise, maturity, flexibility, and the ability to work as a collaborative team player are essential.
•       Ability to serve as a Museum “keyholder” which includes occasional weekend and after-hours staffing.  
•       A valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle are essential

For more information about the Cape Ann Museum, please visit https://www.capeannmuseum.org/ 

Compensation and Employment Benefits: The annual salary for this position is commensurate with experience. During the term of employment, the successful candidate will receive 4 weeks’ vacation annually, and is eligible to participate in the Museum’s health and dental insurance which is at a 60/40 CAM/Employee split.  Employees are immediately eligible to enroll in CAM’s 401(k) Fidelity retirement plan where the Museum will match up to 4% of an employee’s contribution.

The Cape Ann Museum is committed to diversity among its employees and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.  

For consideration, please submit your cover letter and résumé to: resumes@capeannmuseum.org.  You may also submit your materials via postal mail to: Human Resources, Cape Ann Museum, 27 Pleasant Street, Gloucester, MA 01930.